A flag flap: Stars and rips

Frayed banner near car lot upsets citizens

Plantation — The American flag typically inspires pride and patriotism, but the tattered Old Glory at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7 has devolved into a symbol of shame.

The torn flag flagrantly flaps over Rick Case Hyundai, its frayed stripes dancing in different directions.

"I think it's disgusting," said Bill Kling, a Plantation resident who chairs the Broward County Veterans' Council, which represents about 50 South Florida veterans organizations. "It's their patriotic duty to show respect for the symbol of the flag and what it means to America."

J.R. Mollohan, assistant to the chief executive at Rick Case Enterprises, said that while the shabby flag is not the company's fault, "it is our problem, because neighbors think it belongs to Rick Case."

In fact, the 20- by 30-foot flag belongs to Crown Castle, a wireless communications company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company affixed the flag to its white cell phone tower on land leased from Rick Case.

After receiving a call from the Sun-Sentinel, Mollohan said he complained to Crown Castle, which agreed to replace the flag by Wednesday.

"It is hard to keep track of it, because we don't have eyes on the site all the time," said Ozzy Martinez, a field technician at Crown Castle.

"Usually, the dealership would call Crown to let us know that the flag was in a shambles."

Michael LaPietra, 46, a former Marine who lives in the area, said, "When I see the American flag all torn up like that, I feel terrible."

Roneisha Sampson, 11, a fourth-grader at Plantation Elementary School, said she sees the torn flag "every day. It looks so raggedy. It's so big and tall, you can't miss it."

Federal and local laws require faded and ripped flags to be destroyed "in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

While the federal rule doesn't carry any penalties, Plantation code enforcers can slap scofflaws with citations of up to $250 for a first-time offense, and up to $500 for a second.

"We have issued a few citations here and there each year," said Theresa Conner, Plantation's code enforcement supervisor, but that flag was not one of them. "Most people do the right thing and replace them."

American flags are a common sight at car dealerships because they draw the attention of passers-by, flag dealers say. But all those fluttering flags require regular mending and washing, says Kerry McCoy, founder of flagandbanner.com, a Little Rock, Ark.-based company that sells 15,000 types of flags.

Some local car dealers say Florida's harsh sun and rain force them to tend to their flags as they would a new car.

"We have people inspect our flag every week to make sure it's not ripped and that it is hanging properly," said Jairo Acevedo, who works at Maroone Ford in Fort Lauderdale, which has five American flags .

Rather than dumping old flags, patriots recommend giving them to Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion or some Boys and Girl Scouts troops, to be burned in a special ceremony.

It's the patriotic thing to do, said Kling. "It honors what the flag stands for, which is America."

Jennifer Gollan can be reached at jgollan@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7920.